Breast cancer survivor shares mammogram nerves advice

It has been 30 years since Baildon councillor Allison Coates discovered a lump in her breast aged 26.

She immediately went to see her doctor and weeks later, tests revealed the shocking diagnosis.

Allison had the 2cm tumour removed as well as six months of chemotherapy – leading to her full recovery.

To mark the milestone, Allison is now urging more people to examine themselves regularly and avoid putting off important mammogram screenings.

It comes after figures revealed a yearly 44.1 per cent decrease in women aged 45 and over being screened by the NHS for breast cancer in 2020-21. 

In Bradford, NHS figures showed over 25,000 women were not up to date with their mammogram screenings between 2020 and 2021.

Screenings were seriously impacted by pandemic-related disruption and were paused between March and June 2020 to protect patients and staff from the virus, before resuming that summer.

Self-isolation and shielding is also believed to have had an impact on attendances throughout the pandemic.

Looking back at her journey, Cllr Coates said: “I found it myself.

“The only reason I was doing the self examination was because somebody I worked with who was 32, she’d had breast cancer the year before me. It wasn’t talked about as much as it is now. I thought, she’s only four years older than me.”

Doctors did not believe the lump appeared too serious and she was advised to receive her test results following a pre-planned holiday to Mallorca.

“I went back to have the results a couple weeks later,” she said.

“It just nipped out from work and that’s when they told me. They said it was not what they thought. I knew what that meant straight away.

“I don’t live very far from the hospital and they were very worried about me driving home. My mum and dad live only five minutes away and I said it will be worse if I ring my dad. I was only 27, I controlled myself and drove to my mum and dads. It’s 30 years ago but it’s like it was yesterday.”

Those same nerves returned in 2017 when her body reacted to the stress of losing her father in 2017.

“I felt there was a change,” she said.

“I felt a bit of a lump. Straight away there was no issues getting seen.”

It turned out to be nothing, but getting an answer saved her from worrying.

The scary health ordeal saw Cllr Coates start her own cancer support group for young people.

She said: “I never even thought in my mind that I’m not going to get through it. I didn’t let my mind go to those dark places.

“I was 26 when I went to the doctors so I literally did have breast cancer when I was 26. But there were people younger than me, 22, people with a family history of it. I wasn’t the only young one.”

It sparked a life-long love of volunteering and she regularly helps out at Cancer Support Yorkshire near Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The centre offers counselling services, financial advice such as accessing benefits post-diagnosis, and much more.

When asked what she’d say to anyone in need of a screening, she said: “Not to be afraid to go to your GP and get referred. Knowing what you’re dealing with, knowledge is power. There’s a great support network in Bradford to help you through anything if it is diagnosed.

“If it makes one person go for a screening or examine themselves it will be a job well done.

“Somebody said to me, I’ve recently been called and I’m really nervous. I get nervous even 30 years down the line. The actual X-ray is only a few seconds. The lovely nurses put you in a position in two pads and they run behind the screen and press the screen.

“It’s just a few seconds of being uncomfortable to save your life.

“If I hadn’t have examined myself and gone to the doctors that day it could have been a different outcome.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from Cancer Support Yorkshire, visit the website at cancersupportyorkshire.org.uk

How to check for breast cancer

This NHS graphic shows some of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer - from a change in the size, shape and outline of your breast to swelling or a rash (Image: NHS)

Breast screenings - known as mammograms - can spot cancers in the breast that are too small to see or feel.

All women aged 50 up to their 71st birthday are invited for breast screening every three years.

Even if you are aged 71 or over, you are still at risk of breast cancer. 

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